[nabs-l] I believe I have been discriminated against, where to turn for help?

Sat Feb 16 13:58:12 UTC 2013

Good morning, Aleeha,

Very well said, sister!
CarAt 02:46 PM 2/15/2013, you wrote:
>Hi Laurel,
>      Sorry to jump in a bit late on this thread, but I would also be
>willing to talk to you about this. I am the President of the Ohio
>student division and, although you are not from Ohio, I can offer you
>advice and a good set of ears if you need them.
>      I am also in the camp that says that it's not quite time to sue
>yet. I know you are graduating soon, but if you do not go as far as
>you can with this complaint, what's to stop this professor from doing
>the same thing to someone else? She should know that this is
>absolutely not OK and that actions will be taken against her if she
>does not start treating all her students, no matter what the
>disability, or other difference, fairly.
>      Joshua, I would just like to say that, like others, I believe my
>college education and accommodations are going very well. I attend an
>"American" university and, other than a slight bump in the road I am
>dealing with now, everything is going well. The NFB has a false
>reputation for immediately suing someone if they refuse to be
>accommodating: let's not spread that notion any further to others by
>jumping to conclusions about every school and how to handle every
>difficult situation. You may be a busy student, but the fact is that
>every situation is different and there are different steps to follow
>for each situation that arises. You will become more skilled as a
>blind person if you, and I don't just mean you, but every other blind
>person, myself included, assess the unique circumstances surrounding
>each situation and act according to them rather than applying a "one
>size fits all" approach.
>      I hope I have made myself clear and please don't hesitate to
>contact me with any questions.
>Thanks,
>Aleeha
>
>
>On 2/14/13, Kaiti Shelton <crazy4clarinet104 at gmail.com> wrote:
> > Laurel,
> >
> > Chris is right on.  In terms of the NFB, I'd definitely let them know
> > so they can keep your school on their radar for the future.  Maybe not
> > now while you're dealing with the issue, unless of course you choose
> > to seek the help of the NFB for advice on the issue or about getting
> > Labarre or Goldstein's advice, but they should definitely know.
> >
> > However, obviously getting your academic stuff taken care of comes
> > first.  I know it can be frustrating, (a friend and I went through
> > some early stages of the complaint process about a professor last
> > semester), but stick with it.  What your prof did wasn't right,
> > especially since she has effected your GPA in a class you need for
> > your major.  Best of luck, and let us know if you reach any success.
> >
> >
> >
> > On 2/14/13, Chris Nusbaum <dotkid.nusbaum at gmail.com> wrote:
> >> Laurel and all,
> >>
> >> Laurel, let me first say that I am very sorry to hear of this
> >> discrimination
> >> and find it sad that this kind of blatant discrimination still exists in
> >> our
> >> colleges and universities. I agree with all that has been said here, and
> >> I
> >> would definitely try taking the courses of action Kaiti, Arielle and
> >> others
> >> have suggested in this thread.
> >>
> >> You may also want to contact our national office and talk with a member
> >> of
> >> the Advocacy and Policy (also called Governmental Affairs) team if not
> >> Dr.
> >> Maurer himself. Although your state affiliate could probably do more, it
> >> may
> >> be good for the national office to at least know that this (to put it
> >> bluntly) crap is going on so they could step in if need be. If it comes
> >> down
> >> to this, Scott LaBarre, Dan Goldstein or any of the other lawyers who
> >> work
> >> with the Federation could represent you in court. However, I agree with
> >> Ashley that you might not want to sue quite yet, but that is an option. I
> >> emphasize that suing is an option because this may be your last resort if
> >> the people at your college still won't listen to you. This question has
> >> sort
> >> of been asked before in this thread, but how far up the chain of command
> >> at
> >> your school did you go in making your complaints? If you can go higher up
> >> the preverbial ladder before getting lawyers involved, I would definitely
> >> try that first.
> >>
> >> Also, I currently serve on the Board of Directors of the Maryland
> >> Association of Blind Students (MDABS.) I am also the co-Chair of our
> >> Public
> >> Relations Committee. I know you don't live in Maryland, but if there is
> >> anything our student division can do to help you in fighting this
> >> discrimination, please don't hesitate to let us know. Just write to me
> >> off-list or call me and I'll see what I can do. I have provided my phone
> >> number in my signature below. This is definitely discrimination, and I
> >> believe it should be fought. I hope your issues can be resolved quickly
> >> and
> >> without too much trouble for you.
> >>
> >> Good luck,
> >>
> >> Chris Nusbaum, Co-Chair
> >> Public Relations Committee
> >> Maryland Association of Blind Students: a Division of thE National
> >> Federation of the Blind of Maryland
> >> Phone: (443) 547-2409
> >> Email: dotkid.nusbaum at gmail.com
> >>
> >> -----Original Message-----
> >> From: nabs-l [mailto:nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Kaiti
> >> Shelton
> >> Sent: Thursday, February 14, 2013 3:32 PM
> >> To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
> >> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] I believe I have been discriminated against, where
> >> to
> >> turn for help?
> >>
> >> Hi,
> >>
> >> I get that you're trying to make a point, and that she should hear that
> >> she
> >> wasn't pulling one over on you, but I don't think a letter will do much
> >> for
> >> the situation.  She is doing this blatantly and knows what she's doing,
> >> and
> >> if you've beaten at your own game then she's got to know that this hasn't
> >> gone unnoticed.  Congrats to you for that though!
> >>
> >> Chairs of departments fall under the supervision of the dean of whatever
> >> college they belong to.  Try that if you haven't already.
> >> Even professors with years of pull behind them can have consequences if
> >> the
> >> reason for doing so is severe enough, and I'd definitely say that this is
> >> such a case.  If not then definitely go through with the ADA stuff.  It
> >> sounds like you've filed some unsuccessful ADA complaints before, so you
> >> may
> >> need some lawyer's input if it comes down to it.  The main point is that
> >> ADA
> >> or no, it's not right to mess with someone's GPA like this, and not
> >> wanting
> >> someone in a class just because they require some accomodations is an
> >> excuse
> >> a prof with no professionalism would make.
> >>
> >> How much longer do you have till you could get your degree?
> >> Thankfully you can go somewhere else for grad school, and hopefully pick
> >> a
> >> university with much better attitudes and resources geared towards
> >> accomodating fairly.
> >>
> >> On 2/14/13, Laurel <laurel.stockard at gmail.com> wrote:
> >>> Exactly. She is long track, and has tuns of power overthere.
> >>> Basically, her word is law. I'm thinking that at least, if I can't do
> >>> anything else, I am going to wait until I have my degree in hand in
> >>> August, and then write her a letter and just tell her, look I know
> >>> what you did and I want you to know that it's not ok. HOnestly, she
> >>> didn't want me in her class because I'm blind. She tried to fail me,
> >>> but I didn't even know I was being discriminated against at the time.
> >>> I beat her at her own game and passed. I literally just thought it was
> >>> that hard and at the time I didn't know anybody in the class.
> >>> Laurel
> >>>
> >>> On 2/14/13, Loren Wakefield <theweird1 at centurylink.net> wrote:
> >>>> The problem here also is that if the prof is chair of the department,
> >>>> then she is probably tenured.  This makes it harder to bring
> >>>> complaints against and have any sort of meaningful action taken.  But
> >>>> you should follow the chain of command first.
> >>>>
> >>>> Loren
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>> -----Original Message-----
> >>>> From: nabs-l [mailto:nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Kaiti
> >>>> Shelton
> >>>> Sent: Thursday, February 14, 2013 1:03 PM
> >>>> To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
> >>>> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] I believe I have been discriminated against,
> >>>> where to turn for help?
> >>>>
> >>>> Josh,
> >>>>
> >>>> The ADA is great, but you can't just automatically slap everyone who
> >>>> descriminates against someone with a disability with a lawsuit.  If
> >>>> it comes down to it and that's what must be done then that's one
> >>>> thing, but there are certain steps which should be taken before
> >>>> putting the time, effort, and money into suing a person.  Plus, I'm
> >>>> assuming that this is not Laurel's last semester in school, so it
> >>>> wouldn't be wise to just hire a lawyer and make a bunch of legal fuss
> >>>> without going through the chain of command first.
> >>>> I feel that would just create more enemies than this one professor,
> >>>> not to mention make Laurel look bad for not trying to resolve the
> >>>> issue in a more dignified and civilized way before going to court.  A
> >>>> sensible dean will not stand for descrimination from a faculty
> >>>> member, especially if they see Laurel in an appointment.  College
> >>>> administrators are mindful of things which could causse lawsuits and
> >>>> will do what they can to avoid them, and if this French professor
> >>>> really did descriminate and Laurel can prove it in a calm, civilized
> >>>> way by presenting the facts I bet her prof will have some form of
> >>>> consequences from the university.
> >>>>
> >>>> On 2/14/13, Kaiti Shelton <crazy4clarinet104 at gmail.com> wrote:
> >>>>> Laurel,
> >>>>>
> >>>>> If Scott Labarre were to even represent you, you wouldn't get the
> >>>>> case up and running till after this semester was over and your grade
> >>>>> would surely be final.  Talk to your disabilities councelor and see
> >>>>> if they can help; part of their job is to advocate for you in
> >>>>> situations like these.  Make an appointment with the dean of the
> >>>>> language department first.  Make sure it's face-to-face.  If you
> >>>>> have a copy of your exam instructions or the disabilities office has
> >>>>> them on file bring them so that you can show the dean.  It would
> >>>>> also be helpful if you could get a sighted student to describe
> >>>>> either verbally in the meeting or in writing which they can give to
> >>>>> you what their exam procedures were so the dean could compare.  If
> >>>>> the dean refuses to do nothing go to his boss, and if that doesn't
> >>>>> work then I'd look into legal action against the university, but
> >>>>> follow the chain of command first.  You don't want to overstep
> >>>>> people who could help you without making a bigger deal out of the
> >> situation.
> >>>>>
> >>>>> On 2/14/13, Joshua Lester <JLester8462 at pccua.edu> wrote:
> >>>>>> I'll write you offlist, because I need to ask you something anyway.
> >>>>>> Thanks, Joshua
> >>>>>> ________________________________________
> >>>>>> From: nabs-l [nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org] on behalf of Laurel
> >>>>>> [laurel.stockard at gmail.com]
> >>>>>> Sent: Thursday, February 14, 2013 12:43 PM
> >>>>>> To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
> >>>>>> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] I believe I have been discriminated against,
> >>>>>> where to turn for help?
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> What's his email? Sorry, I'm in school and can't answer the phone,
> >>>>>> but I can get away with email. :-)
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> On 2/14/13, Joshua Lester <JLester8462 at pccua.edu> wrote:
> >>>>>>> Good grief!
> >>>>>>> You better sue them!
> >>>>>>> Contact Scott LaBarre, and he'll help you!
> >>>>>>> That's terrible!
> >>>>>>> Blessings, Joshua
> >>>>>>> ________________________________________
> >>>>>>> From: nabs-l [nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org] on behalf of Laurel
> >>>>>>> [laurel.stockard at gmail.com]
> >>>>>>> Sent: Thursday, February 14, 2013 12:32 PM
> >>>>>>> To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
> >>>>>>> Subject: [nabs-l] I believe I have been discriminated against,
> >>>>>>> where to turn for help?
> >>>>>>>
> >>>>>>> As my subject says, I believe that I have been discriminated
> >>>>>>> against by a professor at my university. I am wondering if one of
> >>>>>>> you fellow listers can tell me where to get help. I had a French
> >>>>>>> professor last semester. With out making this too long of a story,
> >>>>>>> basically, I have just found out that she gave me different exams
> >>>>>>> and quizzes than she gave everybody in the class. She made me do a
> >>>>>>> different and much harder final exam for example. On the final, I
> >>>>>>> had to go to my Disability Servic Testing office and answer 4 or 5
> >>>>>>> questions, in French of course, one page responses single spaced
> >>>>>>> without use of a dictionary. I did not know then what everybody
> >>>>>>> else did, I assumed they did the same as me. I found out
> >>>>>>> yesterday, accidentally, that what she did was have everybody else
> >> come to class and get in groups.
> >>>>>>> She then gave each group a dictionary, and assigned the groups 1
> >>>>>>> question each. They then had to answer it and write their answers
> >>>>>>> on the board. The whole class then discussed each question. All 20
> >>>>>>> students made 100s on the exam. I made a 74. Had I made an "A" I
> >>>>>>> would have made an "a" in the class. This is the most major thing
> >>>>>>> she did, there's a lot of smaller things, but I think I can pin
> >>>>>>> her down on this one. Where/what NFB resource/resources should I
> >>>>>>> turn to for
> >>>> help?
> >>>>>>> Thanks
> >>>>>>> Laurel
> >>>>>>>
> >>>>>>> _______________________________________________
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> >>>>>>> cua.edu
> >>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>
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> >>>>>>
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> >>>>>>
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> >>>>>
> >>>>>
> >>>>> --
> >>>>> Kaiti
> >>>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>> --
> >>>> Kaiti
> >>>>
> >>>> _______________________________________________
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> >> 
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nabs-l_nfbnet.org/theweird1%40centurylink.
> >>>> net
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>> _______________________________________________
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> >>>
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> >>
> >>
> >> --
> >> Kaiti
> >>
> >> _______________________________________________
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> >> om
> >>
> >>
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> >
> >
> > --
> > Kaiti
> >
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